Siem Reap to Saigon with RV La Marguerite Cruise 8 Days

Day 1: Embarkation - Siem Reap - Kampong Chhnang (L, D)

Register between 7.00 - 7.45 at Le Meridien Angkor. At 8.00, transfer by coach to Prek K’dam with a stop en route at Kampong Thom. The coach ride takes approximately about 5 hours and a half. Embark the ship in PrekK'dam at 13.30. Short briefing and welcome drink served in Saigon Lounge. Lunch onboard at 13.45. Cabins are ready for check-in after lunch. Captain raises the anchor and cruises towards Kampong Chnang province. Join the safety briefing at Saigon Lounge at 18.00 followed by the Captain's Welcome Cocktails. Enjoy the first gourmet dinner onboard with fellow travelers at 19.00. Pianist entertains from 21.00 to 23.00 in Saigon Lounge. Moor midstream overnight in Tonle River.

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Day 2: Kampong Chhnang - Kampong Tralach - Oudong (B, L, D)

Kampong Chhnang is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Mooring mid-stream, we make a truly wonderful motorboat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen, and of considerable interest are local life and floating village. Go back to the boat and cast off towards Kampong Tralach. Attend lecture on Cambodia - The Past & Present in Saigon Lounge. Our vessel moors at Kampong Tralach. Today’s afternoon tour starts with a 20-minute ox-cart ride from the riverbank. Traveling through countryside and a small village on a dusty road, past rice fields and amused locals. We end the ox-cart ride at the beautiful Vihara belonging to Wat Kapong Tralach Pleu. Visit to pagodas. Our buses are there and we travel about 45 minutes to Oudong Between 1618 and 1866 Oudong was the capital of Cambodia. On the top of Phnom Oudong there is series of stupas and shrines in a variety of conditions. However we do not climb the hill as we visit Oudong Buddhist Monastery. We will attend the Buddhist blessing ceremony, visit Buddhist meditation center. After the visit we take a bus ride back to our ship at Prek K’dam, which is only 10 km from Oudong. Our ship will sails towards little known village Chong Koh passing by Phnom Penh and dock midstream near Chong Koh. After dinner, you can join the movie show “Killing Fields” at the Saigon Lounge.

Day 3: Chong Koh - Phnom Penh (B, L, D)

After breakfast we go spend time in Chong Koh silk weaving village for a morning walk at leisure. Back on board at 10.30 as the ship sets sail toward the capital Phnom Penh. The capital of Cambodia retains its French charm. The city has several impressive wats, including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and the newly-painted Wat Lang Ka. Pride of place goes to the Royal Palace and to the spectacular Silver Pagoda, one of the few places in Cambodia where artefacts embodying the brilliance and richness of Khmer culture were preserved by the Khmer Rouge. At 15.00 a walking tour to Wat Phnom to give you an orientation of Phnom Penh’s downtown. Cocktails and briefing hour followed by a dinner. After dinner, a special Khmer folk performance awaits at the Saigon Lounge. After the performance you can explore Phnom Penh by night by yourself.

Day 4: Phnom Penh (B, L, D)

In the morning, we will have a sightseeing by bus in Phnom Penh. Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum with outstanding displays of the Khmer crafts will be the places that you will visit. Places where you visit in the afternoon will help you know more about a part of Cambodia’s history: the Khmer Rouge’s grim Toul Sleng (S21 detention center) and the Killing Field. If you want to spend more free time for yourself shopping or taking a tour around the city instead, please inform to the Ship Purser. Cocktail hours from 18.30 to 19.30. Dinner is served from 19.30 to 21.00. After dinner you can hang out in the bars many of which are located just opposite the dock.

Day 5: Phnom Penh - Border Crossing - Tan Chau (B, L, D)

Enjoy a hearty breakfast as the ships departs for border. We cast off for a day cruising the main Mekong channel, an international shipping route. Leisure in the morning, in the afternoon Cooking Class peformed by our Executive Chef at Saigon Lounge, while the border formalities are going on. We arrive in Tan Chau - the first Vietnamese town on the Mekong River. Join us in the crewshow in Saigon Lounge. Our vessel moors safely at the river bank.

Day 6: Tan Chau - Sa Dec (B, L, D)

Today will truly be a highlight with a visit of Tan Chau - a small town untouched by tourism. Morning excursion will be really interesting, start with a sightseeing by local boats, navigate narrow channels to visit an evergreen island. You will have a chance to visit floating fish farm and travel along the tiny tributaries where slit houses are haphazardly leaning on one another. Then you will go ashore and have a tour around the town on rickshaw (Xe Loi). Then we will visit a rattan mats and slippers making factories. In the afternoon, we cruise downstream all the way to Sa Dec. Join us to the lecture on-board theme “Vietnam - The Past & Present". The ship arrives in Sadec during dinner and moors midstream for overnight. Cocktails and briefing at Saigon Lounge. After dinner join the Mekong folklore performance in the Saigon Lounge.

Day 7: Sa Dec - Cai Be (B, L, D)

After the breakfast follow guides to the hometown of Marguerite Duras’ lover, quaint little city. Visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le’s, partake in the bantering of local markets along the paved riverbanks. After that, take a 45-minute boat ride to the meeting point in Dong Thap Fruit Market to take a 30-minute bus ride to Xeo Quyt. Back to the ship in Cai Be for lunch. In the afternoon, we take a local boat for our afternoon excursion to Cai Be. We go ashore to visit the French Gothic Cathedral, coconut candy factory, rice paper and pop rice factory. Return to the boat and preparation for farewell cocktails and dinner.

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Day 8: Disembarkation - My Tho - Saigon (B)

After breakfast bid farewells to crew and disembark at My Tho Port at 08: 30. We take 2 hours bus drive to Saigon. Arrive at Sofitel Plaza Saigon around 10.00.

Price in US $ per person

Trip Include:

Welcome and Farewell Dinners, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner including local beers, local brand spirits and local wines served during meals; coffee, selection of teas, selection of herbal infusions, local mineral water, local canned soft drinks served free through the day.

Transfers between the ship and the to meeting points at the start and end of the voyage

Cruise Information

La Marguerite, a 46 room French colonial style vessel that recalls the elegance of the Art Nouveau period in Paris, raises the bar of river cruising in the Mekong Delta. She offers an unparalleled cruise experience between Saigon and Siem Reap. The dining experiences add sparks to a personalized river adventure while the carefully researched excursions to cultural destinations allows for passion revival.

The Concept

A holistic and creative cruise. Perfect for connoisseurs, family vacation, friendship bond building, RV La Marguerite also stimulates the mind and enriches your physical well being. Its unique concept sets it apart from the rest. This 8 days 7 nights cruise offers a distinctive way of experiencing the Mekong through the passion of Marguerite Duras. The guided tours to historic and cultural sites, local attractions, museums and galleries are developed to enrich personal experience, enriching lives passion and inspiration

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Interior Decor

The Interior Design by TTT Architects incorporate colonial French details and ornaments, local artifacts and Mekong styled furniture to replicate a true colonial feel set in premier and luxurious comforts.

Emergency & Food Safety

Smoke detectors are placed in all cabins and public places. Emergency lighting and generator, fire hydrants and fire hoses, fire extinguishers and life jackets are carefully selected for your comfort and safety.

RV La Marguerite follows strict control of food handling related to the receipt, storage, processing, display, packaging & transportation are strictly adhered to for your total enjoyment and safety.

All crew members of the RV La Marguerite are trained in both emergency and non-emergency First Aid

Wine & Dinning

Mekong Restaurant: Paired legendary European cuisine, traditional and Vietnamese-Cambodia fusion highlights Marguerite Duras' passion for exploring multi sensory dining. A culinary celebrations of aromatic taste and texture adds pleasure to the palate, senses, memory and emotions. All meals are served at this restaurant.

Saigon Lounge: Indulge in a splendid afternoons and evenings with a variety of soothing and relaxing chill out music. The Saigon Lounge gently sets the mood for sophisticated tastes and discerning palates.

Panoramic Lounge: The Panoramic Lounge is set right in front of the vessel and one could see the panoramic views of the Mekong River thus allowing the travelers to revel in the beauty of the countryside. The Panoramic Lounge allows one to quieten the mind, and opens all the five senses necessary for the reviving the passion for everyday living.

Sun Deck Bar & Pool: Head to the Sun Deck and enjoy the sun by the dipping pool where you'll find refreshing and invigorating concoctions and snacks that are created and served using the freshest ingredients. You can sip to your heart's content with relaxing views of the Mekong Delta.

Spa Treatment

The spa onboard RV La Marguerite is a sanctuary - a refuge from the hurried pace of modern life with its pristine and exquisitely colonial and Zen vibe, an ideal environment in which to explore the remarkable restorative powers of quiet repose, personal attention and total indulgence on the mind, on the body, and on the soul